May 18, 2023

NEWS

NEWS

MIKE MILES

PVAMU

Question: Is the former Dallas ISD superintendent heading to HISD?

Volume 92, issue 27 May 18, 2023

The HBCU left many grads and family members furious after their recent commencement.

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DN To the POINT

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant brings the ball up court in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn. (Brandon Dill / AP Photo)

Associate Editor’s Message: Only in Ja-merica other people; before you tell me how much Months ago, Ja Morant jeopardized his you love your God, show me how much you NBA career, generational wealth and more love all His children; before you preach to when video showed him casually playing me of your passion for your faith, teach me with guns. While suspended from gameplay, about it through your compassion for your Morant said he got the help he needed to deal neighbors. In the end, I’m not as interested with his life’s pressures. Recently, while rollin’ in what you have to tell or sell [or post in a with one of his homies, Morant was again TX classroom] as in how you choose to live about the gunplay. His homie, who knew and give.” the blowback Ja got the first go-round, still chose to live-stream their antics. The resultBEYOND BROWN V. BOARD OF ED ing opinions? Ja needs a new crew. Ja needs As they say, “If you’re gonna tell the story, Aswad Walker to accept personal responsibility. Ja needs to tell the whole story.” That’s what we need to do stop playin’ “hard.” The Grizzles (his team) and the NBA need regarding Brown v. Board of Education. The famous decision to invest more in player development, etc. While some or all came down on May 17, 1954, legally ending segregation in of that may be true, no one’s mentioning the AR-15 pins some public schools. That’s the part of the story we tell. But what GOP lawmakers floss after each mass shooting, or the Christ- too often goes unspoken, several counties and cities literally mas cards with GOP lawmakers and family members strapped closed down their public schools, some for nearly three years, with weapons of war, or the NRA’s full-throated defense of rather than have their kids sit next to Black children in classwhites parading their guns in public, yet dead silence or con- rooms. Some municipalities changed their laws to use public demnation when it comes to Black gun carriers. In Ja, we see tax dollars to fund private schools. They were affectionately our brother who needs help. But so does America. called “segregation academies.” So, cities used Black tax dollars to fund their kids’ education while ours got none. And THOU SHALT NOT FRONT some cities fought school integration up into the 21st century.

Some Texans are gung-ho about the move requiring place- Ironically, schools today, in some places, are more segregated ment of the 10 Commandments in every classroom of every now than in the 1940s. So, let’s cheer the courage and brilliance public school, as if this act will curb gun violence or improve of Thurgood Marshall, Charles Hamilton Houston and the morals. Are we really that infantile as a people regarding how NAACP Legal Defense Fund. But just know, even with our our spiritual walk works? Hell, the fact that the promoters “victories,” the struggle always continues. of this bill supported putting children in cages, continually demonize the poor, and cheer on the mistreatment of Black- ON THE WEB folk should tell you something. If not, let me leave you with • Is there a generational divide in Black America? the words of U.S. Senator Cory Booker: “Before you speak to • Elder Spotlight: London Wilson Sr. me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat • Klein Forest girls win two track golds at State!

ONLY IN JA-MERICA

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DN News

LET THE PEOPLE

BE HEARD PVAMU moved their commencement ceremonies inside after inclement weather canceled the outdoors event.

PVAMU under fire over graduation fiasco How dare Prairie View A&M University allow this to happen?” said parent Kimberly Belton-Smith. “Common sense Shontay Newsome has waited for the day she could walk says DO NOT PLAN to have the commencement ceremony across the stage and receive her college degree from Prairie outside. Stop being so cheap and pay for a venue that will View A&M University. She rose early on graduation day, accommodate all graduates and guests. People are May 13, headed to PV, and encountered what she calls literally standing outside in the pouring rain AND the worst experience of her life. lightning. To see these young people in their nice “I cannot even begin to explain how PV dropped attire and shoes in hand, running in the rain, is just the ball and ruined this moment for myself, along awful. Sad…sad…sad. And STOP trying to use the with the other graduates,” Newsome said. “A darn mini dome. The name is MINI so it doesn’t moment that we all worked so hard for, that our take a rocket scientist to figure out that it WILL family and loved ones traveled from different cities Khyllia Barnes missed her NOT accommodate the graduates.” and states to celebrate, that was supposed to be so graduation, despite leaving Graduates were heartbroken as many say they special, a moment that we can NEVER get back… hours early. weren’t acknowledged by the administration, was absolutely ruined by PV’s poor decision-maknames were randomly called and many missed ing due to the weather.” the event altogether.

PV officials say they had been monitoring the “This graduation was totally unacceptable. weather all week. At one point, they decided to My child, along with other graduates, worked move commencement from the field to the Wilextremely hard and did not get a chance to walk liam “Billy” J. Nicks, Sr. Building (“Baby Dome”). across the stage. I’m totally disappointed in how After student protest, they moved it back outside PV handled this whole inclement weather issue. since they say the forecast only called for light rain.

Six tickets were issued out to each graduate on However, early Saturday morning, a storm ensued, Friday IF the weather was bad and not one ticket prompting administration to delay commencewas used. Also we sat in traffic for 2.5 hrs for my ment and move it back inside, which meant only daughter to still MISS her graduation. Something a fraction of the guests could attend. should be done for the graduates that missed their The pounding rain exacerbated parking, and graduation,” said Dana Dockery, whose daughter families found themselves immobile in traffic for Khyllia Barnes graduated with a Master of Science hours.

Accounting degree.

“The police directing traffic did a horrible job.

Shontay Newsome was just Contrary to what many believed, the university Traffic was so backed up from families trying one of many graduates who missed the ceremony. says they did have a contingency plan. But a storm to find parking for the graduation. It made me of issues upended an event that had been months THREE HOURS late to my own graduation. I headed out to the graduation at 6:30a.m. from Katy and I didn’t even in planning.

“We are truly disappointed that such an important milestone in the arrive on campus until 10a.m. Unbelievable,” Newsome said.

Families, many of whom had traveled from out of town, were in life of a college student was interrupted by an extreme shift in weather tears as they were forced to watch the graduation via live stream on conditions,” said Acting President Dr. Michael McFrazier. “We acknowltheir cell phones in the car, as they waited in traffic. Many of those that edge the anger and frustration graduates and their guests are experiencdid make it through, including the elderly, were forced to stand outside ing. Be assured that the University administration is reviewing all aspects in the pouring rain after officials stopped allowing people in because (venues, parking, etc.) of conducting commencement at PVAMU and will develop a plan to improve the execution of the ceremony to ensure a of fire code issues.

“This is absolutely, positively the worst experience for these graduates. positive, joyous experience for graduates, parents, friends, and visitors.”

By ReShonda Tate

More people weigh in.

“It was ridiculous. I didn’t get to make it in to see my child walk. We made the best of it and moved on. I just hope for the future it’s better planned out. I wouldn’t want the next graduating class and their parents to experience what we did. I’m just glad it’s over.”

-Dionne Furgerson “How many years has PV been doing graduation now???? An ADEQUATE inclement weather plan should be a no-brainer. We missed my daughter’s graduation, and we left five hours ahead of time. Simply insane.”

-Lisa Carver “Absolutely HORRIBLE experience and the WORST graduation I’ve ever attended!!!!!!”

-Chris Parrish “Stood in the line outside the stadium for an hour in the rain, gates opened for everyone to stand under the bleachers in rain!! Then, I got a call from my goddaughter’s mother to follow the graduates to the Baby Dome to wait inside for another hour and some change for now a late start…10a.m. So we’re now two hours behind schedule, graduates still graduated but in random order and with parents/loved ones in overflow areas watching a screen, unfortunately.

It was unfortunate there was a lack of a weather contingency plan, but they pivoted the best they could, I guess.

But I have never seen a conveyor belt of graduates before.”

-Ayanna Hill “I watched it online also definitely not the same. We will never get that moment back. It should have been a better plan in place.”

-Veronica Alexander “For what they, PV, had to work with, I think it went off as well as could’ve been for the circumstances.”

-Donna Gee

4 | May 18, 2023 |

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DN News ASYLUM-SEEKERS

MAYORS REQUEST BIDEN MEETING

By Aswad Walker

State Rep. Rhetta Bowers (c) is joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and State Rep. Boris Miles

TX moves Crown Act forward Defender News Service

A bill that would ban race-based hair discrimination in Texas workplaces, schools and housing policies is headed to the governor after the Senate approved the bill. Texas would become the latest state to enact the law in a movement that was inspired by the experiences of two students near Houston who were told to cut their hair or be disciplined.

Senators voted 29-1 to send House Bill 567, by Democratic Rep. Rhetta Bowers of Rowlett, to Gov. Greg Abbott. A gubernatorial spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether the governor supports the bill.

The bill mostly cruised through the legislative track after not getting a full chamber vote in the House during the 87th legislative session in 2021.

This year, a House committee sent it to the full chamber nearly unanimously before representatives in the lower chamber overwhelmingly sent it to the Senate in April.

Versions of the legislation, called the CROWN Act — an acronym for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair — have been adopted throughout the country as well as in Harris County, the state’s most populous, and the city of Austin.

During a hearing May 9 before the Senate’s State Affairs Committee, a series of witnesses testified about

how they had experienced the race- not suspended because of how they based hair discrimination that the bill wear their hair, State Board of Educaseeks to prohibit in the state’s educa- tion member Aicha Davis, who reption, labor and property codes. resents Dallas and Tarrant counties, Ad j o a B . A s a m o a h , w h o told the committee. co-founded a coalition that champi“There are students who aren’t ons the CROWN Act, told committee even able to enroll in a Texas [school members she conceptualized the law system] because of their natural hair,” in 2018 to tackle this type of discrim- Davis said. “Please make sure another ination. She said she had put in work one of our students doesn’t face this for many years, even before the case kind discrimination by passing the of the young men near Houston drew CROWN Act.” the attention of mainstream media to De’Andre Arnold and his cousin the problem. can attest to the impact the discrimi“Preserving and protecting peo- nation can have on school-age youth. ple’s civil, human and individual The two were told by administrators at rights requires a thoughtful and Barbers Hill Independent School Disintentional and collective approach,” trict in Mont Belvieu, east of Houston, Asamoah testified. “It to cut their long locs or impacts the upward be disciplined. mobility of individuals Both refused and and families, and it has sued the school disbeen the reason far too trict over its dress code many children have in a matter that is not Legislation missed school or had yet resolved. like this negative educational “We have to show kind of tells experiences.” that there’s no room Asamoah added, in society for people people, ‘It’s “This issue warrants that are unaccepting OK to be how a legislative fix — the of others and demonyou are; be CROWN Act is exactly ize others for the way happy who that.” they tend to live their Enacting the prolives,” said Arnold, a you are; be posal would ensure junior at Louisiana proud.’” that all students get a State University, in an fair chance to be learninterview earlier this DE’ANDRE ing in a classroom and year.

ARNOLD

Mayors of several major U.S. cities, including Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling on him to meet with them to discuss the influx of asylum seekers arriving from the border.

The letter, written by the Office of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and dated Friday, May 12 (the day after Title 42 ended), was co-signed by Turner and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock joined the three original letter authors just days later, urging the action from Biden.

All mayors involved in the request for a sit-down with Biden at this printing are African American.

“The City of Houston is considering options to provide support, but lacks sufficient resources to meet the overwhelming needs of the

migrant community,” said Turner recently. “Currently we are waiting to see what resources the federal government will provide before determining how and if we can assist. In the meantime, we are grateful for our nonprofit community and partners like Catholic Charities and Casa Juan Diego that are receiving a limited number of buses, but are also equally under-resourced and overwhelmed. We hope the federal government can provide the needed resources for us to create a structured plan to fully assist.”

“This is a matter of grave importance to us as we are experiencing a dramatic influx of asylum seekers and anticipate even more [after the end of Title 42],” the letter explained. “Our cities have been hard at work doing more than our fair share and we need continued federal governmental assistance.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner greets President Joe Biden at Ellington Field in 2021. AP

VOLUME 92, NUMBER 27 - MAY 18, 2023 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

Digital Content Manager Get Current Studios Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Photographer Jimmie Aggison Social Media Manager Tia Alphonse Jordan Hockett

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2023 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, TX 77288

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DN Education State lawmakers launch TX HBCU Legislative Caucus Defender News Service

State lawmakers have formed the Texas Historically Black Colleges and Universities Legislative Caucus to help provide the state’s HBCUs with the “necessary resources and support to thrive.”

HBCU students, including students from Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University, helped organize the caucus, which hopes to assemble state lawmakers from both the Senate and House who represent, attended or support HBCUs and obtain funding for them “commensurate with the role they have played in developing the prosperity” of Texas.

The caucus also plans to raise awareness of the issues HBCUs face, work to improve those schools and “build a network of supporters.” It is expected to formally launch during this legislative session with executive officers, staff and a budget.

Rep. Ron Reynolds, chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said the state is going in the wrong direction when it comes to proposals targeting diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education, and he stressed the importance of investing in HBCUs to help educate Black, Hispanic and first-generation students.

Huston-Tillotson University sophomore Caleb Brizuela speaks with State Reps. Ron Reynolds and Jolanda Jones.

Gov. Greg Abbott is “trying to turn back the clock from some of the progress that has been made in this state to make sure that many other institutions of higher learning had diverse faculty and staff and student populations,” said Reynolds, D-Missouri City. “We understand that (anti-DEI legislation) likely will (pass), so it’s going to be even more important to have strong HBCUs.” There are nine public and private HBCUs

in Texas. Reynolds said the caucus would need to “be creative” on finding ways to get more money to HBCUs in Texas to help more students graduate and provide the schools with more support.

Reynolds said Texas Southern University is one of 11 HBCUs that the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has given R2 status, indicating “high research activity.” The school could achieve

the prestigious R1 status if state lawmakers gave it more money, said Reynolds, a Texas Southern alumnus.

“As the ninth largest economy in the world, we have a $33 billion surplus and over $15 billion in our state’s rainy day fund. We find ways to support whatever priorities we choose to,” Reynolds said. “If we make the necessary investments, then trust me, there is a way to do it.”

Who is the new HISD superintendent?

By Laura Onyeneho

should be about the people of HISD, not pol- center of controversy during his tenure, Could former Dallas ISD superinitics. I know that we all can see this is as parents alleged officials within the tendent Mike Miles be heading to a takeover of a functioning public school district took money away from Houston? It depends on who school system.” “at risk” students to pay for magnet and you ask. The Texas Education A TEA spokesperson told elite schools. Miles is also credited with Agency denies that a decision the Defender that the official introducing the Accelerating Campus has been made to name a new name of the superintendent Excellence turnaround program to help Houston ISD superintendent. and board of managers will struggling Dallas schools, an initiative But according to Houston be announced on June 1. critics say has proven to be costly.

Mayor Sylvester Turner, Miles Some Dallas school trustees have had may have been chosen to lead the Who is Mike Miles? concerns about Miles’ management style Sylvester nation’s seventh largest district.

Miles was the former superinten- and performance; a reputation that conTurner “The commissioner should condent of the Harrison School District cerns many Houston education advocates. firm or deny. This process is totally in Colorado. He held that position The Houston Teachers Union among flawed,” Turner said on Twitter. “One person for six years before serving as Dallas others shared their thoughts about in Austin is deciding who will be the super- ISD’s superintendent beginning the lack of transparency on intendent and managers.” in 2012. Miles resigned from Twitter, calling it a “hypocU.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Hous- that role in 2015 to spend risy.” With a little over two ton, also agreed with Turner on hearing the time with his family. weeks until the start of the speculations about Miles being chosen as the Before his departure, Miles takeover there is still no new superintendent. survived a no-confidence vote word on who the HISD “So it’s important for the TEA Adminis- from the Dallas School Board superintendent will be, yet, trator to do what is right — that is to leave who voted 6-3 in a motion to fire teachers are expected to give resHISD in the structure that it is in which Miles, according to reports from Mike Miles ignation notice no later than 45 days allows our superintendent, teachers, and KERA. He is now the founder and before the first day of instruction for parents to invest in the betterment of our CEO of Third Future Schools, a network of the school year. school district and allow parents to be via- public charter schools serving 4,500 students “The people’s focus on Miles is misble stake holders in the education of their in Texas, Colorado, and Louisiana. placed. The real problem here is the govchildren,” Lee said in a Twitter thread. “This Dallas ISD and Miles had been at the ernor and the way in which this takeover

I’m sure these appointees will be well-intentioned citizens who want to do good. But, the only good that will be done will be whatever the TEA Commissioner and the Governor wants them to do.”

US REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

is happening, no transparency,” said Ruth Kravetz, co-founder of Community Voices for Public Education. “This is just an attempt of the governor and Republicans to take over our democratic institutions in cities with large Black and Brown communities.

We are two weeks away from Miles being appointed and they are pretending that he’s not.”

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DN InFocus

ANTI-BLACKNESS: M

By Aswad Walker

ost discussions on anti-Blackness (racism, white supremacy) tend to focus on issues of injustice via the criminal justice system, educational inequalities or various discriminations in housing, banking, employment, etc. When the idea of anti-Blackness is applied to healthcare, the focus tends to be on historical wrongs like the Tuskegee Experiment or contemporary inequities in healthcare access.

But what often goes unaddressed is the pandemic of negative outcomes arising from anti-Blackness in all aspects of everyday life. Through this lens, it is no stretch of the imagination to surmise that anti-Blackness is a health crisis so all-encompassing, that it could be considered the number one ANTI-BLACKNESS: killer of Black people.

The beliefs, attitudes, actions, Though future artipractices, and behaviors of cles will explore how individuals and institutions anti-Blackness in eduthat devalue, minimize, cation, public policy, and marginalize the full the criminal justice participation of Black people. system, etc. lead to negative health outcomes and often death for Black adults and children, this article will focus on the healthcare space.

WHAT IS ANTI-BLACKNESS?

In the report “Anti-Blackness/Colorism”

by Janvieve Williams Comrie, Antoinette M. Landor, Kwyn Townsend Riley and Jason D. Williamson, “Anti-Blackness is defined as the beliefs, attitudes, actions, practices, and behaviors of individuals and institutions that devalue, minimize, and marginalize the full participation of Black people—visibly (or perceived to be) of African descent. It is the systematic denial of Black humanity and dignity, which makes Black people effectively ineligible for full citizenship.”

To entrepreneur Kimberly Tennile, anti-Blackness is “The insidious and instinctual act of finding anything associated with Black people and specifically African-American culture as inherently subpar and in need of correction, adjustment, or eradication.”

But whatever your definition, anti-Blackness is having horrendous impacts on Black health.

A health crisis we must confront

PREGNANCY MORTALITY RATES PER 100K

41.4 Black

26.2

American Indian and Alaska Native

13.7 White

*Source - Racial Disparities in Maternal and and Infant Health MATERNAL CARE

According to the article “Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them” by Latoya Hill, Samantha Artiga and Usha Ranji (Nov. 1, 2022), Black and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women have higher rates of pregnancy-related death compared to white women.

Moreover, Black women have higher shares of preterm births, low birthweight births, or births for which they received late or no prenatal care compared to white women. Infants born to Black women have markedly higher mortality rates than those born to white women.

The article asserts that these maternal and infant health disparities are symptoms of broader underlying social and economic inequities that are rooted in racism and discrimination via differences in health insurance coverage and access to care, as well as the “primary drivers,” inequities in broader social and economic factors and structural and systemic racism and discrimination.

Research reported in The Journal of the American Heart Association adds: • Black women of childbearing age were more than twice as likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure than white women of similar age, putting them at an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications.

• This disparity in high blood pressure persisted after adjusting for social determinants of health, health factors and modifiable health behaviors.

• Food insecurity — lack of access to adequate healthy food — one of the social factors that may affect high blood pressure risk, was higher among Hispanic and Black women compared with white women.

On April 10, 2023, the White House issued “A Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week, 2023” that reiterated what Black women have been screaming for years, that

“institutional racism drives these high maternal mortality rates” and that “Black women are often dismissed or ignored in hospitals and other health care settings, even as they suffer from severe injuries and pregnancy complications and ask for help.”

The proclamation then identifies systemic inequities impacting Black maternal health that are in many ways the products of “anti-Black” legislative, housing, environmental and even infrastructure policies and actions, including barriers to safe/stable housing, barriers to travel for prenatal and postpartum checkups, air and water pollution and food deserts.

UNDERESTIMATING PAIN

Then, there’s the racialization of pain, as Blacks are systematically undertreated for pain compared to whites.

• Half of white medical trainees (our future doctors) erroneously believe Blacks have thicker skin or less sensitive nerve endings than whites.

• Black patients are less likely than whites to be given pain medications and, if given pain medications, they receive lower quantities.[i] • Black patients were significantly less likely than white patients to receive analgesics for extremity fractures in the emergency room (57% vs. 74%), despite having similar self-reports of pain.[ii] • A study of nearly one million children diagnosed with appendicitis revealed that Black patients were less likely than whites to receive any pain medication for moderate pain and less likely to receive medication for severe pain.[iii] • Physicians were more likely to underestimate the pain of Black patients (47%) relative to non-Black patients (33.5%).[iv]

DN ONLINE

DIAGNOSES

Adult and pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Kali Hobson recently highlighted anti-Blackness regarding a “condition” over-diagnosed in Black children—one she compares to “drapetomania,” the racist, made-up “mental illness” physician Samuel A. Cartwright said in 1851 caused enslaved Africans to flee captivity.

“Today, the diagnosis of ODD [Oppositional Defiant Disorder] has similar roots,” said Hobson. “The diagnosis of ODD is significantly over-diagnosed in Black children, specifically Black boys, and has symptoms such as frequently angry or disrespectful, excessively argues with adults or actively refuses to comply with requests or rules. Yet, when faced with oppression and racism, systemically at every level, in schools, in school rules, in policing, in laws, in resource allocation, who wouldn’t exhibit these symptoms? Especially due to racial biases, these symptoms are already overly attributed to [Black people].”

WHAT’S BEING DONE TO END THIS CRISIS?

The American Public Health Association’s (APHA) article states, “In 2018, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, became the first community to declare racism a public health crisis.”

Since May 2020 (after the killing of George Floyd), nearly 200 declarations were passed nationally by city/town councils, county boards, governor/mayoral statements, school boards and public health departments. As of August 2021, 209 such declarations passed in 37 states.

Though these declarations are seen as a positive first step, actions speak louder than words.

Author’s Note: This article is the first in a series of articles focused on “anti-Blackness as a health crisis.” Subsequent articles will focus on how anti-Blackness in education, public policy, the criminal justice system, media (TV, film, music) and social media and social and workplace interactions contribute to negative health outcomes for Black people.

Read about local efforts to stand against anti-Blackness in healthcare

8 | May 18, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Feature Mentors step up for Black boys

By Aswad Walker

For a growing number of young men in the Baytown area, Michael Jackson is definitely a “Thriller.”

No, not that Michael Jackson, but the Generation Z-aged local educator, who’s also a mentor, coach and change agent who founded YMSS (Young Men Successfully Steppin’) to save lives and empower our next generation.

The Defender spoke with Jackson, the Houston-born Nimitz High School alum, about YMSS, its mission, meteoric growth and plans for the future.

DEFENDER: Where and why was YMSS birthed?

MICHAEL JACKSON: It was birthed

at James Bowie Elementary, which is the elementary school that I teach at, in order to give young men the opportunity to promote brotherhood, develop leaders and just step and create this technique and this sound; the things that I used to love to do. So, I wanted to introduce them to that because they knew nothing about it. And never did I imagine; we shot out like a rocket. In just a year, we’ve done a lot and I’m just grateful.

DEFENDER: What do you think it is about YMSS that’s attracting young brothers?

JACKSON: Just the positivity of it all.

In this day and time that we live in, young men are doing God knows what; things they shouldn’t be doing. And to see that they want to do this, they want to come to YMSS practice, they have the drive and the passion to learn new stuff, learn technique, learn self-discipline, learn conformity and sacrifice, they are willing to learn, sometimes I feel like they motivate me although I’m supposed to be inspiring them. They motivate me because, you know, I’m human. Sometimes, I’m like, “Is this my calling, is this my purpose,” and I want to give up sometimes because finances or other things are just not lining up. And I could be doing other things with my time.

But they always just give me confirmation that I’m supposed to be doing this. And

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: Y.M.S.S_ TikTok: Y.M.S.S_Stepteam Facebook: Young Men Successfully Steppin’

DN ONLINE

YMSS members. Michael Jackson standing in the back row (center, with shades on). Courtesy YMSS.

they love it. Their heart is in it, and they’re always down for the challenge. I couldn’t ask for a greater group.

DEFENDER: What inspired you to start YMSS? JACKSON: Initially, it wasn’t my idea to

do it first. I did it at a previous school, and the assistant principal there is now the principal at Bowie (Dr. Regina Patrick-Sims).

And she was like, “Okay, you’re going to do it here because it was successful there.” And I’m like, “Let me fill it out first, learn the children, see where I could be a good fit.” She said, “No. You’re gonna do it. Trust me on this. You’re gonna thank me later. Just trust.”

She wasn’t gonna take no for an answer.

DEFENDER: So, is YMSS just about stepping?

JACKSON: No sir. It’s bigger than step.

Step is like the start. It kind of reels you in like, “Hey, that looks cool. I want to do it. They look good, they’re doing this, they’re gaining

Learn about YMSS’s upcoming NY competition, future vision and ways you can support them.

popularity or whatever the case is. I want to do it.” But we are bigger than step. We don’t just step. It’s a lot of hard work. It’s a lot of discipline. But we also go into the community. We’ve done backpack drives, we feed the homeless, been to a Woman’s Shelter and we’ve helped and we did a toy drive for Christmas.

My organization is built for brotherhood.

the wrong crowd. I was a bad child. I was a rebel. I did a lot of different things, just to try to get my parents’ attention, but for my own reasons. I just wanna break that and let them know, for my organization that we can do this. We are going to continue to do this and be positive and just continue to have a light shined on us.

DEFENDER: What’s your vision for the organization moving forward?

JACKSON: Moving forward, I want to

DEFENDER: Do you have a mantra?

JACKSON: We say this quote every day

continue just breaking barriers, breaking this code or this statistic that says boys nowadays are just into streets or into just gaming or electronics or social media, or getting with

when we have practice and we end it with this: “We can’t stand if we don’t fall. We fail if we don’t try. Every day, we’re getting better and better. Nothing is given. Everything is earned. YMSS.”

CLASSIFIED LEGAL NOTICE FOR CFTH The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Furniture and Welcome Kits for clients who have been newly housed after experiencing homelessness. Through the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) project, house individuals currently living on our streets and in our shelters, providing the best and recommended intervention to help prevent the spread of COVID -19. The purpose of this RFP is to solicit the services from qualified vendors interested in the opportunity to provide furniture packages and home starter kits to clients of The Way Home who are placed into housing by CFTH The full text of the RFP is available at: https://www.homelesshouston.org/funding-v2#ActiveFundingOpportunities.

Interested vendors should submit their proposal electronically to CFTH at the following email address: contracts@homelesshouston.org. Responses to this RFP must be submitted by 5:00 PM CDT on May 31, 2023.

May 18, 2023 |

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| 9

DN Health

A DEFENDER AND KELSEY-SEYBOLD CLINIC ALLIANCE

Suffering From Irritated Allergy Eyes?

By COURTNEY MORROW, OD

Houston’s high levels of pollution, pollen, mold, dust, and other irritants can make for miserable eyes. Allergic reactions to our airborne allergens may be the culprit of your watery, itching, red eyes and swollen eyelids, which are rather common allergy symptoms. These symptoms can interfere with your quality of life and even your job productivity – but relief may be closer than you think.

weaken blood vessels in your eyes and make them even redder.

• Use artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to flush out any irritants.

Try to avoid known allergy triggers.

• Try an over-the-counter remedy like allergy eye drops, oral antihistamines, or other medication for mild allergies.

• Keep the windows shut in your car and home – especially in the early morning hours when pollination tends to occur.

FROM THE DOC “Vision is a gift; pay attention to your eyes.

It’s my duty to provide the best care while also being a source of support in taking steps toward my patients’ goals.”

• Wear wrap-around glasses or sunglasses to help keep pollen out of your eyes.

Dr. Morrow is certified by the Texas Optometry Board.

For immediate relief on days when your allergies are mild, try some do-it-yourself remedies:

• Place a cold compress over your eyes to soothe discomfort.

• Contact lens wearers should wait at least 15 minutes after using allergy eye drops before putting in lenses.

• For severe, persistent allergies, prescription drops may be the answer. Prescription medications can often block the effect of allergens and offer longer-lasting relief.

Even though allergy eye drops can offer quick relief, long-term use can

Even as you’re treating your symptoms, try to avoid allergy triggers.

If, for instance, you’re allergic to pollen, stay inside with windows and doors closed when the pollen count is high.

It’s also a good idea to dust furniture, vacuum rugs, and wash bedding on a regular basis.

Vision is a gift; pay attention to your eyes. If allergy symptoms are prolonged or get worse or you have pain, blurriness, or double vison, go to the doctor immediately. An eye-care specialist can determine the cause and present treatment based on sound, evidence-based medical procedures.

Dr. Courtney Morrow sees patients at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Kingwood.

Kelsey-Seybold Nurses Go Above and Beyond!

National Nurses Week, May 6-12.

Thanks to the amazing nurses at Kelsey-Seybold for making a difference in the lives of patients everyday!

We salute all of the dedicated unsung nursing heroes in our community who work tirelessly to serve others with strength and selflessness.

You Make a Difference,

Arlene Brown, L.V.N.

Kelsey-Seybold Clinic – Clear Lake Joined Kelsey-Seybold in 2002 1067860714

10 | May 18, 2023 |

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DN Sports

JETOLA BLAIR

Marathon runner overcomes injury to seize record

By ReShonda Tate

Jetola Blair is a worldclass marathon runner.

It’s something she stumbled upon by accident, after looking for a way to honor a friend who died of leukemia. Blair wanted to do something to honor her memory and “nothing seemed right.” Someone suggested she run a half marathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“I didn’t want to run, but I’d raised money and I felt like a fraud because with the pace I was training, I wasn’t going to be able to participate. So I upped my training. The next thing you know, I signed up to do the Houston Half Marathon,” she said.

From there, Blair set out to conquer marathons all over the world, and she looked forward to hitting her 10-year milestone at the Boston Marathon. Then, she tripped on a sidewalk while in New York preparing for the New York Marathon this past November. That left her ankle broken in three places. She was unable to walk, let alone run. Doctors told her to give up the dream of the Boston Marathon, which took place last month. But Blair had never been a quitter and wasn’t about to start now. She shared her story with the Defender.

Defender: What did your recovery and rehab plan entail?

Jetola Blair: I came home and I had

surgery to repair my foot. They inserted a titanium plate with seven pins. I had to learn to walk again. I credit my physical therapist because he understood what I was going through mentally. He helped me break through the mental barriers, pushing me at every session.

And it hurt. There were days when I sat in the car afterward and just cried because it was so painful. But we were working as a team because when I first met with him, he said, ‘What’s your goal?’ I said, ‘I want to run the Boston

Marathon.’ He chuckled at first because he thought I was joking.

And then he realized I was serious. And he said, ‘Well, let’s figure out how to make that happen.’ I went to therapy several times a week.

My therapist was very caring and understanding, and he listened to me. So I’ve always felt like the treatment was a partnership, he wasn’t just telling me what to do. We decided together what I was going to do.

I’d come back and give him feedback, how it felt, what worked, what didn’t work. And then he progressed from there.

Defender: You recently completed the Boston Marathon, exceeding doctor’s expectations. What motivated you?

Blair: When I crossed the finish

line, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I actually did it.’ But this particular Boston Marathon was really important to me because it would’ve been my 10th consecutive. And that’s

a big deal because when you hit your 10th consecutive race, your status changes to legacy status and you get to register early and no longer have to worry about the cutoff. And the reason Boston has a cutoff is because the number of places are fixed. It’s 30,000. That’s not going to change. If 60,000 people apply, it’s 30,000 spots. Everybody worries about that, and I no longer have to.

Defender: You started out walking and thought you’d never like running. How did that change?

Blair: My coach said, “How

about you try to run one minute out of each mile you walk.”

That’s how it started until I realized that I liked the running portion of it. There’s so many aspects to running. The mental part of it, the solitude. I have written books in my head, I’ve solved all the problems of the world or just that time to be and not be obligated to anybody or have to do anything; to just be.

There’s a physical part of it, it makes you feel good. I like cupcakes, and running allows me to eat more cupcakes than the average person. The other part is the social aspect that I like. I live and run in Houston, but there’s this whole network all over the world.

Defender: What’s your next goal?

Blair: There are six races that have

received this designation as the world majors - New York, Boston and Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo.

When you complete those six, you get this big beautiful medal and you’re listed forever as a six-star finisher. So personally, I have five stars. Tokyo would’ve been my fifth star last month, but because of the injury I had to defer.

But God willing, I’ll be able to do it next year and finally get my sixth year.

May 18, 2023 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports

| 11

LAILA PAYNE

First track and field gold medalist at Carnegie

By Jimmie Aggison

The Carnegie Vanguard track & field program began in 2019, but due to COVID-19, 2021 was their first true season. However, in two short years of competition, the school crowned its first UIL State gold medalist in 2023. Her name is Layla Payne, and she won the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 41.96.

Carnegie Vanguard is a magnet Gifted and Talented program where the focus is primarily on academics.

The school does participate in six UIL sporting events–volleyball, tennis, baseball, cross country, soccer and track & field–but to only minor success.

ABOUT LAILA PAYNE Class: 2025 Twitter: @lailapayne2025 IG: @lailapayne2025 Event: 100-meters, 300-meter hurdles Height & weight: 5-feet-3, 115 pounds Runners she studies: Cindy McLaughlin, Sha’Carri Richardson Status: Uncommitted Favorite artists: Beyoncé, SZA Favorite subject: History Hobby: Dancing (Jazz, Hip-Hop)

That is, until Payne’s state victory.

“She’s the only athlete we’ve had at Carnegie to make it to state so far,” said Carnegie Vanguard girls track coach Jamie Ford. “We’re growing as an athletic program, but we’re just not known for it. Having Laila as part of this program not only expands what Carnegie can offer but also shows that

you can be a well-rounded athlete as well as a scholar. So, I think she just sets the bar real high.”

Payne comes from a family of runners. Both her parents were involved in summer track, but it was her mother who specialized in the 400-meter hurdles while in college who encouraged the Carnegie Vanguard sophomore to get involved in the sport.

“My ex-husband and I both ran summer track, so it was inevitable that our kids were probably going to run track,” said Latosha Lewis Payne.

“Everybody assumed that she was going to run hurdles because I did.

But it wasn’t until her freshman year that she actually said on her own that she’d like to run hurdles.”

Payne began running the 400meter and 200-meters with Track Houston when she was 8-years-old.

However, it wasn’t until her freshman year that she began running hurdles.

“I honestly felt behind because everybody had already developed their hurdle technique and my hurdle technique wasn’t up to the standards of other people. I’m still working on that to make sure I can get to where I need to be in the coming years,” said Payne.

“She works really hard in practice.

I hope she continues to progress. She’s a very competitive, quiet young lady, who doesn’t say much. She just lets her actions speak on the track,” said Track Houston coach William Valerie.

Last season Payne made it to regionals but was unable to advance. This season, still working on her technique, Payne ran 41.96 and took first place in the UIL 5A 300-meter hurdles.

“It means a lot to me, honestly. I know there’s a lot that I can improve,” said Payne.

12 | May 18, 2023 |

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